Hawthorne, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Trees in the public right-of-way and on city property are governed by Hawthorne's 'Trees, Shrubs and Plants' chapter of the municipal code, which the city's published code locates in Title 8 (Health and Safety). The chapter provides that no person, firm, or corporation - including utility companies - shall cut, trim, prune, plant, remove, injure, or interfere with any tree, shrub, plant, or vegetation in or upon any street, park, boulevard, alley, or property of the city without a permit issued by the Director. The 'Director' is defined as the director of parks and recreation of the city. Applicants must submit plans, specifications, and/or a complete description of the work; the Director prescribes the conditions of the permit and may require a written agreement and proof of insurance assuring the applicant can respond in damages for any injury or property damage resulting from the work. A narrow exception lets a utility maintaining a pipe, conduit, or pole proceed without a prior permit when work must be done immediately to protect public peace, health, safety, or welfare, provided the utility applies for a retroactive permit on the next business day. Separately, every owner must keep trees, shrubs, and vegetation on their own property in a condition that prevents them from imperiling life or property, being unsafe or hazardous, or obstructing traffic on a public way. For city/parkway trees, residents request maintenance through the city's Community Services tree service request process rather than trimming the tree themselves.